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Chase Young Leaving Ohio State Early To Enter NFL Draft

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young rushes the Northwestern quarterback during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Evanston, Ill.
Charles Rex Arbogast
/
AP
Ohio State defensive end Chase Young rushes the Northwestern quarterback during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Evanston, Ill.

Ohio State star defensive end Chase Young says he's leaving school to enter the NFL draft in the spring.

Young announced the move in a Twitter post Friday.

"I look forward to joining a new family in the NFL this spring and being part of something special,” Young wrote.

Young won the Bronko Nagurski award last year, awarded to the best college defensive player in the nation, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Young led the nation in sacks with 16.5, the best in school history, and forced six fumbles in just 10 games. He reached that number despite being suspended for two games against Maryland and Rutgers.

Young says he took and repaid a loan from a “family friend,” which Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said violated the NCAA’s policy against preferential treatment for student athletes.

Young will join fellow Ohio State junior J.K. Dobbins in the 2020 NFL draft. Dobbins, who announcedhis decision December 30, ended the season as the first Buckeye running back to rush for over 2,000 yards.